Monday, May 12, 2008

The Extra Ones

The Extra Ones We are told that he chose five smooth stones. Young, and ruddy faced, in 1 Samuel 17:40. I would have imagined jagged ones to cause greater cranial damage, but who am I? This sling was not even the type you draw back on. It was the kind you whirl about your head. I know, because there was an artist’s rendition in the book my mother read, as my eyes fell shut.

So an army cowers, as the boy runs forward, taunting this oaf! This day the Lord will hand you over to me. He kicks the dirt and spits, And I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Shaking, he shouts at a helmet that weighs more than him,The birds shall eat you, placing a stone in the pouch. Philistine laughter shakes the very rainclouds loose over the heads of Israel, as the air sings.

And what I love most is not the part where he cuts off the head. Nor even the part where Saul asks, Whose son are you, young man? I love the fact that David took four extra stones. Ones he did not know he did not need. The scene that is not illustrated in any bedtime book, and the sound, ping-ping-ping-ping, denting helmets, as the Philistines run for the hills.